Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Oct 2019
No-deal Brexit: Schedule of Tariffs
"I welcome the Minister to the Dispatch Box.
The Government failed to consult properly with business organisations or with trade unions before publishing these tariff measures, ignoring the very producers whose jobs and livelihoods would be most affected. Their refusal to listen and their inability to compromise are now posing …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 07 Oct 2019
US Tariffs: Scotch Whisky
"I welcome the urgent question asked by the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell). I welcome, too, the measured tone of the Minister’s response, the factual information that he provided at the Dispatch Box and his support for the international rules-based order.
It is no secret …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 26 Sep 2019
Arms Export Licences (Saudi Arabia)
"Indeed, Mr Speaker.
The Government did know; they just did not tell the Department for International Trade. Which Department knew? Which Minister had the responsibility to tell the Secretary of State, and why are they not sitting alongside the right hon. Lady, making an apology to Parliament?
The evidence presented …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 11 Jul 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"Last month, the Department released the worst foreign direct investment statistics in five years. New projects were down 14%, new jobs were down 24%, and investment to safeguard existing jobs was down 54%. I know that the Secretary of State will want to explain the reasons for this to the …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 20 Jun 2019
Export Licences: High Court Judgment
"I thank the Secretary of State for advance sight of the statement. This week, the House marked in debate the 70th anniversary of the Geneva convention and the 20th anniversary of the United Nation’s Security Council first putting on its agenda the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The irony …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 06 Jun 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"Today we remember with profound respect the importance of the multilateral alliance, and the sacrifices made 75 years ago today. Did the Secretary of State take the opportunity of the recent state visit involving those commemorations to express his dismay that UK companies might now fall foul of the Helms-Burton …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 25 Apr 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"The world was shocked by the two crashes of Boeing 737 Max 8s that saw the tragic loss of 346 lives. That is, of course, a matter for the European Aviation Safety Agency to investigate, but it is for the Secretary of State to investigate whether the export capacity of …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 14 Mar 2019
Oral Answers to Questions
"One of our most distinguished former diplomats, the noble Lord Kerr, spoke last week, during the passage of the Trade Bill in another place, of the value of having a mandate as a negotiator. He said:
“Having negotiated against Americans, I know that it greatly strengthens their hand to be …..."Barry Gardiner - View Speech
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Written Question
Wednesday 27th February 2019
Asked by:
Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff in his Department were directly employed on negotiations in relation to (a) new trade agreements with (i) Australia, (ii) New Zealand and (iii) the US and (b) the UK's potential accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership; and how many of those staff have since been seconded to work on concluding trade agreements with those third countries with which the EU has a signed agreement.
Answered by George Hollingbery
DIT has been conducting preparatory work in relation to potential new trade agreements with Australia, New Zealand, the US and potential accession to CPTPP. Until the UK leaves the EU no formal negotiations can be undertaken with Australia, New Zealand, the US and the CPTPP nor have they been. That is a function that will occur after the UK has left the EU.
There is no one size fits all format or size for a negotiation team. Decisions on staff and resources are, therefore, still to be finalised. It should also be noted that the conduct of any negotiation will involve both front line staff and broader input covering a wider range of staff both from DIT and from other government departments.
Over recent months DIT has increased its efforts to deliver Trade Agreement Continuity with those third countries with which the EU has a signed agreement as part of our preparations for a potential No Deal scenario. Those efforts draw principally on the resources of the Trade Policy Group.
Since the Department was created its Trade Policy Group (TPG) has grown to approximately 480 people at the end of January 2019, bringing together trade policy, country specialists and experts on trade policy issues. A number of DIT staff in offshore posts are also undertaking work on market access trade policy issues.
Written Question
Monday 25th February 2019
Asked by:
Barry Gardiner (Labour - Brent West)
Question
to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions he has had with officials in the EU on ensuring that UK steel exports to the EU will not be subject to safeguard measures in the event that the UK does not have a customs union agreement with the EU.
Answered by George Hollingbery
Following our exit from the European Union, we are committed to maintaining a close and collaborative relationship with the EU. Our future partnership is a matter for the next phase of negotiations, and we look forward to constructive discussions with the EU.